Business is booming for mobile animal grooming company

"Substantial research and number crunching opened my eyes to the possibilities of this business," said Young, who opened the business with his mother, Mariamne.

Aussie Pet Mobile owner Mathis Young puts the finishing touches on Keesha in his grooming van.

The business of 29-year-old Mathis Young and his mother, Mariamne, has gone to the dogs and cats -- literally.

The duo, which launched Aussie Pet Mobile Co. just over a year ago, go to people's homes and groom their dogs and cats from two specially-designed, self contained Mercedes Sprinter vans.

The Youngs have grown Aussie Pet Mobile, an international franchise, to groom an average of 50 animals per week. The time needed and the cost of the services vary depending on the breed and size of the pet.

Business is booming -- they recently added a second van -- even during the Great Recession.

"My friends thought I was crazy when I left a steady banking job to start this unusual business," said Mathis Young, a managerial finance graduate of the University of Mississippi. "They thought the idea was bizarre, foreign, crazy, but bold. Now that we are growing and are successful, people are looking at us differently.

"No matter the economy, consumers spend a lot of money on their pets because they are part of the family," he said. "While we opened our business during the height of the economic downturn and have prospered, we expect to thrive in 2010 and beyond."

Young said banking influenced his decision to enter the pet grooming business.

"In my job at the bank, I was routinely meeting with business owners in search of their banking relationship," he said. "My passion for being self-employed grew even more from my daily interactions with these entrepreneurs. I found myself picking their brains for their expertise and ideas."

The mother-and-son business team consulted with William Adler, owner of The Entrepreneur's Source, in the fall of 2008 about the idea of a portable grooming service for dogs and cats.

"I am not surprised that the Youngs are successful with this mobile pet grooming business," Adler said. "Mathis and his mom have an excellent entrepreneur spirit, a solid business sense and a drive to be successful.

"There is a real need for this service," Adler said. "They are offering a superior service at a reasonable price with outstanding customer service."

Owning a business has always been a goal of Mathis Young.

"Substantial research and number crunching opened my eyes to the possibilities of this business," he said. "We saw the financials and realized of the great demand in our community for personalized pet care. It really was a no-brainer.

"Our success is not only because of the convenience in visiting clients' homes, but also because of the stress-free environment," he said. "Many pets do not travel well. Our service provides a grooming option in the comfort of the pet's familiar surroundings. The pets don't have to sit in a cage at a groom shop all day."

Aussie Pet Mobile provides full-service grooming spa treatments for all breeds. The service includes a full brushing, an all-natural shampoo, ear cleaning, nail clipping, blow drying, massage, bath in the van's hydro tub and other amenities.

"Our vans do not require a connection to the clients' water supply or electricity," Mathis said. "Our level of work is highly professional. It is important for the clients to know we are taking care of their four-legged children. We spoil your pets with one-on-one care and attention."